13 March 7, 2013 | year 55
Biweekly magazine of the Eindhoven University of Technology For news: www.cursor.tue.nl and follow tuecursor on andmm
3 | TU/e @ STRP Biennial 3 Night-night
4 Meet the FuTUre
14 University news
2 | For Starters
Colophon Editor in chief Han Konings
Executive editor Brigit Span
Editorial staff Judith van Gaal Tom Jeltes | Science Odette Knappers (trainee) Frits van Otterdijk Norbine Schalij Monique van de Ven Berry Zwets (trainee)
Staff Nicole Testerink Gerard Verhoogt
Photography Bart van Overbeeke
Cover Bart van Overbeeke
Translation Annemarie van Limpt (pages 2,3) Benjamin Ruijsenaars (page 4,5)
Layout Natasha Franc
March 7, 2013
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Cookie factory Monday afternoon, March 4. The University Council meeting in the Dorgelozaal reaches 6PM. What was discussed? Well, there was an annual report on scientific integrity, and one about legal protection for students. Both are mere formalities, since we don’t cheat, and we always manage to reach an agreement with our complaining students. The evaluation of three years of exclusion notices showed it helps, but our performance could still be better. Later, dean Lex Lemmens presented an interim evaluation of the Bachelor College. Predictions regarding choices, dropouts, and performance seem to have been accurate. Lemmens is a happy man. Upon completion of that item, Rector Hans van Duijn addressed his neighbor on the right, Wessel Prins, party member of Groep-één. Van Duijn wants to talk about Prins’ column in Cursor, in which he stated the Applied Sciences exam for first-year students was too easy. He speculated the difficulty level may have been a reaction to the mediocre results of
Han Koning s, editor in
chief Curs
or
the previous Calculus exam. Van Duijn dismisses his point of view as being too blunt and fears for the reputation of TU/e. Objections raised by Prins and his party leader Lars Beke are barely heard. What’s so threatening about critical students who want to participate in educational improvement? That’s what the outside world should know about. Last year, VU Amsterdam stated they’re not a cookie factory, but an academic institution that expects all parties to do their utmost. It’s obvious Van Duijn wants to give his all to our university, but he’s not the only one who can do so.
Editorial board prof.dr. Cees Midden prof.dr. Hans Niemantsverdriet Angela Stevens- van Gennip Thomas Reijnaerts Arold Roestenburg Anneliese Vermeulen-Adolfs
Rewwwind www.cursor.tue.nl
HIV cure found. Or has it?
There’s a huge media frenzy this week due to an announcement made this past Sunday regarding a medical breakthrough. From the news, you’ll learn that a baby has been cured from HIV. If you just skim the articles, or if you just read the headlines, then you should be really excited about this. However, the complications lie in the details. One of the most paramount reasons why I normally avoid mainstream news casts, is the fact that, in order to attract readers, they more often than not jumble facts and askew data. This is also the case for the so-called medical breakthrough. See, the thing is the child was not cured. Not in the medical sense, anyway. Cured means that all traces of the virus have been eradicated. In this case, the HIV virus is just in remission, meaning that the virus is in a non-functional state. The reports say the baby has been off the drugs for about one year (she’s two and a half years old right now), and it might be too early to ascertain a cure has been found. Then again, this is not a cure in the strict meaning it evokes on us.
The baby was administered the same drugs that have circulated for years now, just in stronger doses and at a very, VERY early stage (administration started 30 hours after birth). The virus is still there, it’s just below the detectable threshold by today’s equipment. Thus, while this does not precisely translate in a way to treat or cure HIV in adults, or after infection not stemming from birth, it is still one of the greatest advances in the 32-year long war against this deadly virus.
Emilio Mal Automotiv donado | Student in e Technolo gy from MM.Sc. exico
Our Rewwwind feature provides you with snippets of last week’s news. What happened online after the previous Cursor magazine was published?
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Four new university professors at TU/e
300 new student accommodations on TU/e Campus
6 March - Yesterday, 5 March, the Executive Board has appointed four new university professors. They are prof.dr.ir. Maarten Steinbuch (Mechanical Engineering), prof.dr.ir. Wil van der Aalst (Mathematics & Computer Science), prof.dr.ir. Anthonie Meijers (IE&IS), and prof.dr.ir. René
4 March - Amsterdam architect agency Wingender Hovenier Architecten, Swiss architect agency Office Haratori, and BDG Architecten Ingenieurs Almere have won the European tender for the building of three hundred student accommodations on TU/e campus. The design will be carried out as a
Janssen (Chemical Engineering and Applied Physics). The rookie university professors are regarded as ambassadors for the university and follow in the footsteps of prof.dr. Bert Meijer (Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and ICMS), who was appointed university professor back in 2004.
team. Completion of the project is planned for the summer of 2016.
Brainmatters Psychology is becoming ever more important at TU/e. Technical systems and artifacts, be they games, cars, robots, lighting systems or buildings, are all meant for human end users eventually. It’s essential to know how these users perceive, think, feel, and act. The new human-oriented program Psychology & Technology examines every technical design from a psychological perspective. From now on, Cursor will be taking a closer psychological look at students, teachers, labs, technical artifacts, the workplace, the scientific business, campus, education, and websites.
Knowledge Shared is
Knowledge Squared The fact that the title of this column is a slogan from an advertising brochure of Microsoft’s Sharepoint does not make the statement less relevant to scientists. If scientists are open about what they do, science will benefit.
“It is time that scientists modernize the way they work”
Scientific articles are the most limited way to take note of the results of scientific research. When scientists still had to share their knowledge on clay tablets and ink printed on paper, there were no alternatives. But now it’s time that scientists modernize the way they work.
In scientific journals researchers summarize what they have done and discovered. These reports are far from complete. Scientists almost exclusively publish research that was successful, when sharing non-successful research can prevent others from wasting their time on it. Due to lack of space not everything can be described in detail, while sometimes the devil is in the details.
It has become much easier as a scientist to be completely clear about the work you do. The Open Science Framework (www.openscienceframework.org) offers researchers a digital environment to share Daniel Lake ns, assistan t professo all aspects of their work online, from the at Human-T r in Applie echnology d Cognitive Interaction, Psychology first hypothesis to the last analysis. Departmen t of IE & IS That information can be shared privately, but can also be made publicly available. In addition to never losing anything related to your research (if your computer breaks down, or if the student who made the materials of the experiment has graduated), it is also very easy to share what you know. It does require a willingness to be open about your work. Psychological research shows that the more competitive science is, the less scientists want to share with other colleagues. On the other hand, greater openness can lead to greater cooperation and improve the overall quality of our work. So try it out. Let’s work together to create a more open science.
For Starters | 3
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Vox Academici Dr. Maarten Merkx, associate professor of Chemical Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering
What harm can poor sleep do? A week of poor sleep -six hours or less- can seriously confuse your body, according to an article published in scientific journal PNAS last week. English researchers showed that lack of sleep may influence the regulation of approximately seven hundred genes. It was already known that people who don’t sleep well run a higher risk of infections, concentration problems, and cardiovascular disease. Bad news for partying students, and doctoral candidates pulling all-nighters. But how exactly does less sleep interfere with your body, and can a change in gene expression be undone?
“I’ll be honest: I did turn in a little earlier than usual after reading the article yesterday”, Maarten Merkx, associate professor of Chemical Biology at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, admits. “Still, their findings aren’t surprising. Epidemiological studies have already shown that long-term lack of
sleep can have serious consequences, including diabetes. And everyone knows that failing to get a good night’s sleep for several days on end makes you feel ‘different’, and increases your chances of catching a cold. It can only mean the gene regulation changes; I would have been surprised had they not found any changes. And although seven hundred genes may sound like a lot, I’m not sure that number should lead to extra worrying… The results from previous studies - diabetes, cardiovascular disease - are worrisome enough as they are, I believe.” “It’s also a good thing your gene regulation changes, because your body is trying to adapt to a new situation, one with little sleep. But what are the important changes? They found that in ‘normal people’ a group of genes involved in the immune system is more active during the day than at night, when the genes for cell structure are most active. For the group of people that slept poorly, gene regulation was disrupted by their biological clocks.” “However, we’re looking for an answer to the question what harm several nights of partying or working on a paper until late at night for a few weeks on end can do in the long run. Can the change in your gene expression be undone? It would have been great had the researchers drawn
blood samples from the poor sleepers a week after they had gone back to their normal sleep cycle.” “There’s another issue as well. We know more and more about how environmental factors can turn on or shut down genes for an indefinite period: epigenetics. I wonder if long-term lack of sleep leads to such epigenetic changes. But that’s much more challenging to research.” “People respond differently to poor sleep, just as we all have different sleeping needs. I know of people who claim they’re fine with four hours of sleep every night, but that reeks of boasting. By the way, in light of this topic it’s nice to point out the new biochemical ‘road map’ for humans, which was published in Nature Biotechnology yesterday. The media hype surrounding its publication, saying it’s ‘one of the greatest scientific breakthroughs ever’ seems a bit out of proportion, although we do now have a better insight into the human metabolic processes than ever. It’s possible that in the future we can check how people’s metabolism works and responds to certain situations like lack of sleep, based on personal genetics. But for now I’d just keep an eye on the clock and advise everyone to hit the hay early.” (NT)
Dr. Maarten Merkx. Archive photo | Bart van Overbeeke
The New Machine Era The New Machine Era can be admired at the STRP Biennial, which welcomed approximately visitors during its opening weekend. The event can be visited through March 10. The entire Rube-Goldberg machine was built by some people. A TU/e team constructed the part shown in the picture, measuring by meters and meters in height. The entire machine measures over square meters. Started in mid-February, the TU/e team, consisting of students and supervising lecturer Bert Lonsain, worked on the project for more than weeks. In total, the project took the team hours to complete. It produces a scroll stating all names and participating parties. (GV)
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Foto | Bart van Overbeeke
4 | Linked
March 7, 2013
“We’re not done TU/e: a home away from home for tens of thousands of employees and students. The international community is a relatively small one, with infinite connections between its members, be they professional or private. In ‘Linked’, two community members talk about their mutual relationship and their connection to the university.
More than two years ago, Sagitta Peters and Heidi Prevoo were at the cradle of FuTUre, the ‘Young Professionals Network’ of TU/e. The network is intended for young, ambitious employees, both faculty and support staff. FuTUre regularly organizes workshops, tours and (lunch) meetings where members say something about their own areas of expertise. A discussion with two bridge builders.
Heidi Prevoo (28, on the right in the picture) is policy officer for the institutional policy. One thing she does is the writing of the annual reports of the university and she is involved in the development and the implementation of the TU/e policy. Since last December she has also worked for the Communication Expertise Center for two days, where she helps to ensure that the TU/e policy also lands within the organization. She studied International Business in Maastricht. Sagitta Peters (32) studied Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at TU/e and she has been the business manager of the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS) since its foundation. In 2012 she became managing director of the ICMS. In addition, since February 1 she has also been managing director of the Intelligent Lighting Institute (ILI). Prevoo and Peters got to know each other several years ago when they found out, independently from each other, that the network for ambitious youngsters which they were looking for here at TU/e did not exist at all. Prevoo: “My friend was secretary of the Young Professional Network of his
organization. I assumed that there would be a similar network at TU/e, but I was proven wrong. Then I heard from HR Services (DPO) that Sagitta had asked them a similar question shortly before that.” Peters confirms this: “I felt the need to exchange ideas with kindred spirits outside my direct working environment. WISE (Women in Science, ed.) momentarily seemed an option to me, but that is only intended for scientists. Then I approached DPO. There it was ultimately suggested that we should set up a network ourselves. Which we did.” The energetic ladies sat round the table together, which resulted in FuTUre. “We did not get to know each other through FuTUre, but for FuTUre”, they say with one voice and a smile. At present the network counts some one hundred employees, almost half of whom are from non-Dutch descent. Consequently, all meetings are in English. The membership is free; the meetings are paid for with some modest financial support from DPO. Prevoo: “If we want to organize a slightly more expensive event, which may include a dinner, for example, we ask the participants for a contribution. That works very well.” FuTUre members regularly give presentations about their own expertise. “‘FuTUre presents’ we call this”, says Prevoo. Joining is done by sending an email to future@tue.nl. “Then we register you as a member and you are kept informed of the activities. We do keep track of who actually comes to the meetings, for we do want to try and keep an active membership. Although we now have a nice mixture of men and women, scientists and support staff, we would like to grow more.”
Linked | 5
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with FuTUre yet” Peters agrees: “The more people we can connect, the better.” Over the past two years Prevoo and Peters, together with fellow committee members Peter Pasmans (doctoral candidate at Applied Physics), Theo Hofman (assistant professor at Mechanical Engineering) and Ward Derix (project manager at Real Estate Management) organized five annual meetings, which are visited by 25 to 30 members on average. They want to step up the number of meetings to eight per year. Peters: “Our members often lead very busy lives and we’ve noticed that they have trouble reserving time for longer meetings. That’s why we have decided on some more but shorter meetings. We often plan the meetings around a lunch. Food for thought we call this.”
“The more people we can connect, the better” Both women are visibly enthusiastic about the effects of ‘their’ network. It is clear that bridges are being built, for example between faculty and support staff, between departments and services. Peters: “While FuTUre is good for one’s personal development, it’s also useful in many positions to have a better awareness of what others are doing. And you engender a spirit of innovation and inspiration that is also important for the university as a whole. In general, people get out of their own
service or department very little, and when they do so it’s often for a very specific problem. Recently somebody from Real estate Management told me that it was only after having got in touch with somebody who works in the lab that he really understood why there’s always so much protest against building activities. And conversely, scientists get an insight into the complexity of the financial side of TU/e, for instance.” “For me personally it’s very good to learn something about the background of the things I write about in annual reports”, Prevoo adds. “For me science is often far from my own back yard. Recently we had a lecture about polymer mechanics for FuTUre. After that lecture, such a term does come alive more.” Peters: “As I’ve studied Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, it’s easier for me to think along with the researchers. I know how they work and what’s important to them.” Prevoo reacts: “I may not have studied technology, but I’m definitely enthusiastic about the things that are taking place here. Awesome things are done here.” Peters: “You’re putting your heart and soul into this, that’s obvious. It’s obvious when your eyes begin to shine when you talk about something.” Then she goes on: “Heidi is enthusiastic, happy and self-willed. She really tackles things her own way. She knows how she can position things outside the daily course of affairs.” Prevoo looks up to Peters somewhat, she says. “Sagitta is 32 and already director of a big institution. As a business administrator I know what that entails. She’s full of creative ideas. To say that she leaves her mark on everything would sound too negative,
yet her proposals are often so good that it’s difficult not to carry them out accordingly. And she is critical. After the end of a meeting she always manages to come up with something that could have been better.” “As for the critical attitude, we are often on the same wavelength”, says Peters. Prevoo: “No, we are not done with FuTUre yet.” Interview | Tom Jeltes Photo | Bart van Overbeeke
On Thursday March 14 at 12.00 o’clock there will be a special meeting of FuTUre about employee participation for all young (up to 36) and ambitious employees of TU/e. During the free lunch meeting ‘A say @ TU/e’ FuTUre member Rianne van Eerd, chairwoman of the PUR (the personnel group in the University Council), will talk about her job. Registration via future@tue.nl.